In another statement, Patrick J. Smyth, identified by Ford as being among those downstairs at the party, says "I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh'".

He said he believes Sen. "It's my understanding that (Ford's) story was leaked before the letter became public and she testified that she had spoken to her friends about it, and it's most likely that that's how this story leaked".

"If you can ignore everything in this record (except) an allegation that's 35 years old, that's uncertain in time place date and no corroboration". The only people who reportedly had access to the letter were Feinstein's office, the office of Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), and Ford's attorneys.

"We're going to do a wholesale and full-scale investigation of what I think was a despicable process", Graham, of SC, said on ABC's "This Week". "Again, if the shoe were on the other foot and Republicans had done this, we would be destroyed and it would be under ethical investigation". And in the process, they want to "destroy this guy's life", Graham said. He said he was "very precise" about writing down who would attend gatherings, but said none of those on his calendar include the people that Ford identified. God, I hope you never get it. She was as abused as he was ... "You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford; none".

At the hearing, Kavanaugh maintained his innocence and sparred with Democratic senators. Ford said she was "100 percent" certain a drunken Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, tried to remove her clothes and clapped a hand over her mouth as she tried to yell for help. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.

Jeff Flake to have a limited FBI investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh.

The bickering over the prospect of an Federal Bureau of Investigation probe comes a day after US President Donald Trump said that he would not order one as "there was nothing to investigate".

After reading a quote from New York Sen.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Trump agreed - and the president directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation to examine "all credible allegations" against Kavanaugh.

Graham then claimed that Republicans more often get accused of sexual misconduct, but said that Democrats should be on the lookout for more accusations in the future.

"This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics", Graham lashed out, accusing Democrats of deliberately withholding Blasey Ford's assault allegations until the conservative judge's confirmation process was almost complete.